Butterface —
Silly fast car - great bang for the buck, especially in 2004 there was nothing that came close. Still capable of beating most cars 2x the price if that's important to you. Very nice interior, great handling.

Everyone Should Have One!!! —
Well where do I start, if you know anything about cars you will know about Subaru
Imprezas. This one however isn't your normal everyday Impreza, this is the range topping
STi version. This car will out accelerate, out handle and totally out perform pretty much
anything you can throw at it. With 265bhp on tap and a 0-60mph figure of under 5
seconds even super cars will struggle to keep up. What makes this car even more
impressive is that whilst you are doing all this there's enough room in the back to bring
along the whole family although I wouldn't recommend it for their sakes!!! I can't explain
how good this car is to drive and how well it performs in all weather conditions, all I will
say is this, EVERYONE should own one!!!

Pros:
Grin factor (and if you add an exhaust and dump valve the grin factor just gets bigger). Nothing comes close for the same amount of money.

7 Years Of Saving $$ Was Worth It! —
I saved my money for 7 years while I was in the Army, mostly stationed overseas, with the intent of paying for grad school. Then I ended up getting a scholarship. So, I bought this car. It was worth every penny.
Other cars I was considering were the RX-8, Mustang, Evo, and G35. I picked a 4-door because I figured I might get married someday (and as you can see, I did) and have kids, so I figured I could keep a 4-door for many years. I also liked the AWD. I wanted something a little sportier than the G35, so it came down to STi vs. Evo. In the end, a review in a magazine noted that the STi was just a little bit more well-mannered on the street, so I got it.
I have not been disappointed. The car is a rocket. I will confess to having gotten it over 100mph at timed, but the scary thing is that I've usually done it unintentionally - like trying to get around someone so I floor the accelerator and I'm breaking 100 before I even notice. With 4 doors, it's just practical enough to keep... I admit there's a child seat in it now, which may seem a bit uncool but hey, just because I'm a dad doesn't mean I can't have any fun!
A few things that bother me: 1) I would have preferred more conservative styling - the wing is an absolute cop magnet. I am not a reckless driver and I almost never really speed, but I don't like cops just following me around waiting for me to do something, which has happened. 2) A few initial quality issues. The power steering was making some hissing noises, and the rack and pump had to be replaced. Also, I had to get the alignment done twice in the first three months, which may have been connected to the other problem. 3) The transmission is good but not great - shifting isn't quite as smooth as I'd like. Also, the clutch is grabby and the brakes throw off a LOT of dust. Both of these are inevitable - the fact that both are high-performance components leads directly to those effects. i consider it an acceptable tradeoff, but it's something you should consider. Finally, the sound system was an option, so I tried to save money by skipping it and getting a cheaper radio installed at Best Buy. BIG MISTAKE. If you want a radio in it, stick with the dealer-installed option - they're less likely to botch the job.
The car came with performance (summer) tires. So it was marginal in the wet and undrivable in snow/ice (I only attempted to do so once, going around the block as a test). I've replaced the original tires with Bridgestone RE960s, and with those and the AWD it is now quite good in all weather conditions, though obviously with a tradeoff on dry pavement.
I believe the initial quality issues have been resolved - I did get this during its first model year. So my bottom line is that if Subaru could just add a better transmission - maybe like the dual-clutch system in the Audis - this car would be darn near perfect. And for well under $40K!

Pros:
Outstanding performance for the price. Not just the engine, but also the brakes are outstanding. Good in all weather if you switch to ultra-high-performance all-season tires. A true 4-door sports car. Great "bang for the buck."

'kin Great! —
Even a fool like me could make an Impreza do all the stuff that the Rally Kings would have you believe is difficult. It's performance, grip and balance are in a different league. Anyone who tells you that the Mitsubishi Evo is the better car is probably right, but if the Subaru starts off in front, the Mitsubishi won't get past it!

Pros:
Fastest way into the next life

Cons:
Fastest way to end up stuck in this life without a driving license

I Love This Car! —
The 2004 STi was the introductory year of the high performance Subaru Imprezas in North America. Prior to that year, this high performance model, known as the WRC in the rest of the world, was only available in Europe and Asia.
My STi is mostly stock....with the exception of 18" O-Z Prodrive wheels, Kumho Ecsta Supra tires, and running with Royal Purple 5w-30 High Performance Motor Oil, Royal Purple 75w-90 MaxGear Gear Oil in the tranny and rear diff, and Purple Ice additive in the cooling system. Planned mods are the SPT high flow intake w/heat shield and SPT catback exhause, with computer tweaks to optimize performance.

Pros:
AWD, 300hp/300 ft lbs torque, great handling, and very stylish

Cons:
A little tough on gas if you have a hard time keeping your foot out of it...:)

2004 Subaru Impreza Wrx Sti —
With 300 HP and 300 ft/lbs. tq, this thing is amazing! fastest car I've ever personally owned and it handles tight. The best part about this car is that an investment of around $6k will have it up to 500 HP and you can pretty much beat any car on the road under $200,000.00

This Is A Car.... —
When my foot connected with the accelerator it was "love" the noise the car made was just
terrific. As soon as you sit down in the seat you know you are one with the car you can
turn a corner and know that the car will be able to do it it is just whether your pants will
be able to finish the same way they started.
Overall just a excellent car to drive, to own even would be a great thing to have, to look at.

Reviews From Other Years

Sedan By Day Sports Car By BoostBy RussGuss

I think Subaru did a great job when combining work and pleasure and it turns heads kids love it!!! It's options for suspension control and six speed manual transmission with hill assist along with the...
Read More

Great All-around Car!By ADebelius

This car is the best of all worlds. It has great performance, a sporty look, lots of room, and is practical for almost anything. The handling is very good but not too stiff that you feel every bump. F...
Read More

If You're Into Import Cars, This Is The Best To Go. Fast AndBy Pao

This car is fun to drive. The most important reason I purchased this car is because
of its All Wheel Drive (AWD). The car can tackle almost any corner on the streets
whether it's slippery and rain...
Read More

Great, Fast, & Cool. By Chad

My wife and I purchased this car for our son on the 16th birthday. It was a great purchase, great overall performance and great maintenance. Never a bit of trouble and my son loves this car. I love ...
Read More

007 Would Drive ThisBy StarFox

Great car! M3, Porsha' and corvettes all try to race me lol. Handles great! No mods but brakes, it has a short throw shifter in it also! Best body type. 2014 bodies are alright. This is a 007 car....
Read More

Great BuyBy Jones89

This car was built for speed and handling. It's light weight and aggressive body add a good wow factor. It's not the greatest daily driver but you will find yourself ignoring discomfort and smiling...
Read More

Family Car Nawww 4 Door BeastBy Nick

love it fast handles amazing can take this car on the
track/rally/ and everyday use. i have drag raced this car and it beats most
of the v8's out there with stage 2 and tune. overall great car for t...
Read More

Very All-around ImpressiveBy Subilover1

my Subaru impreza WRX STI is the best car I've driven, and I've driven some pretty amazing cars, anywhere from ferrari's to porsches! And you get 10x the performance for a fraction of the price, every...
Read More